Football Focus Issue 81 | Page 31

Chamberlayne academies such as Southampton, Portsmouth and Chelsea so the managers are doing a great job with the training and coaching of hopefully many future Chamberlayne first team players in years to come.” Finding a Home “The most challenging times for us lay ahead as we run a great club without having a place we can call home, we all play out of different pitches and have been actively trying to find land for several years to enable the club to continue its growth and push up the football ladder. Although I work for a housing developer myself I am the first to admit that the boom in housing and release of greenfield has not helped our cause at all.” Present “The mood is good at the moment after our 6th successful summer youth tournament hosting teams from all over Hampshire and many a scout from even further afield. We also ran our first summer coaching courses alongside the Charlie Austin soccer academy. The season has started well for the Saturday’s men’s first team and we are currently top of the league and unbeaten in all cups. A major focus this season is on winning the league and gaining promotion to the Hampshire Premier. A first season in men’s football for last seasons under 16’s in Southampton Saturday Junior 1 with manager Phil Allan has given us another aspect to work on and help the team find a few experienced heads to aid the younger players but they have plenty of talent in the squad with four of them already becoming regular Sunday first team players. Club President Mick Colborne is back managing the men’s Sunday second team and the Sunday third team is under the management of Neil Walsh and assistant Rich Cox; they are also bringing plenty of talented young players through. We’re now hoping we get the council’s approval to make necessary improvements to the ground we currently rent from them, so that we can get our application to the Hampshire Premier League approved whilst ensuring we win the league.” Youth “Youth football is hugely important to us and something I have enjoyed being able to watch blossom since being with the club and now at 34 I need the youth to be coming through and bringing success for many years to come. Watching the youth games and tournaments is something I have enjoyed and taken great pride in and now having my brother in law and original Sunday player and my CB partner for ten years managing my nephew Freddie Farmer at under 7’s I can say that with his passion and the kids ability the long term future is bright … although with several already being with academies I may have my work cut out keeping them all!” Transition “I think by us having that connection as a club as whole from the committee to the managers to the www.footballfocusmag.com 31